A trip to the Seaside (in the fog and wind!)

Science

Today we went to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the trains and planes. (Emily loves public transport!) We had fun looking at all the engines and pumps as well as the 'hands on' activities. We made a rocket and fired it using air. We even managed to hit the member of staff standing nearby.Thankfully tears were absent as it returned to earth in one piece and brought home with pride. It is amazing what you can make with paper and sticky tape.

We have also been busy baking cakes and making chocolate rabbits. Sadly the rabbit has passed on to the other side now and was greatly enjoyed. The cakes are demolished too!Joel had his appointment with the dietitian yesterday. All is ok, he can be weaned like a regular baby only we are not allowed to use traditional formula. We can also give him more of his milk in a bottle if needed. This might stop him from waking between 2 - 5 times a night with hunger. The downside is that his milk already causes issues with his bowels so we have to be careful how much we give him. Our cardiology appointment has been rescheduled til the end of January so hopefully some questions will have answers.

Meanwhile Emily, Joel and I have started a really fun group at Charnwood Nursery. We are going to the Opportunity Group on Friday Afternoons. We had our first one yesterday. It was great. The staff and other families there are really friendly. Emily had so much fun playing in the home corner, sunken sandpit, soft play and trampoline as well as the other activities provided. It was nice to be in an environment where Joel was Joel - not the boy with the tube. Hopefully there will be a place for Emily to go there in September for a few days a week. We will wait and see and in the meantime enjoy our Fridays.

Day out at Dunham Massey...

...with Fifi Flower Tot, Joel and all the McCulloch clan.

And one of the little 'oiled' man today, (his skin is flaking off as he was more overdue than we thought!)

Weekends away

This weekend we have been away to Edale with Jamie's parents and David and Nicola. We stayed in a beautiful refurbished barn where we overlooked the grazing pastures for the sheep. We had a great time visiting Chatsworth house and the farm there, the village of Eyam, where bubonic plague came in 1665 and Castleton where we heard pipe bands playing and the streets are decorated with trees and lights. I have uploaded some pictures. (as usual)
Chatsworth House


Running in circles and getting nowhere!

Chatsworth Farm

The scab on her nose is from Thursday when she opened the back door and fell out over the step as I was putting the cleaning box in the shed!

I only noticed the no photography sign as I closed the door when leaving Eyam church. At least no one was in there when I was, so I wasn't interrupting anyone!

The 'Plague' Window and a Norman Window, the oldest window in the church yet it lots so contemporary. A celtic cross dating back to the 8th century. Wow that's old.

The road between Edale and Castleton, a 10% hill.

It was Dad's birthday today, Happy Birthday to you. I think that is enough for now and I have so much to do before tomorrow at school, but I was excited to post pictures of our cool weekend and to use our new camera too.

Camera Phones are great.

Well, our camera has gone to camera heaven after 17 months! How did this happen I ask myself? I think it was when we went to the beach in Belfast and sand got into the lens. I asked for it to be repaired but the camera repair man told me to throw it away as cameras are so cheap to replace and expensive to fix! Anyway I remembered that I had a camera on my phone so here are the photos from my phone and some from before the camera broke. Aren't camera phones great?!

My youngest Sister, Emma and our niece, Ellie-May. (Emma is going to have a second baby next June. We are all very excited for another little Fawcett). My other sister, Judith is going to be a mummy for the first time. Big congratulations to David and her, we await the new arrival in June. Yes you read right... in June.

We went to the zoo, what a great day out.

The beach that broke our camera (We went here on the way to our meal on our wedding day and had pictures taken here.)

Parent and Tots at my old church. (Emily liked the pancakes!)

Always the keen musician

Choosing from the menu in Cafe Rouge

A new hat.

Trying out the new wellies in the leaves at NTC

All smiles.

Photo post of our day.

Ducks, walks and playing.

Ball or ballllll in Emily speak.

A little fuzzy action shot.The long and winding road

The collection of the day, leaves
Mmmmmm

Emily and I had a great day, the weather was great and it was fab to be outdoors.

Sadly our friend lost his battle with cancer today. I am not sure what to write, we didn't know him amazingly well, but well enough to know that he was a great guy and he will be missed by many.

Birthday Weekends

Bath time with Granny

This past weekend I celebrated my birthday. It was a great time. Last year I was 4 days away from my due date and quite big, so this year I felt very different, not only because I am a stone lighter but because I felt I could celebrate. Last year J took me out to my favourite restaurant, The Lime Tree. The food was great and very tasty but... I ended up being very unwell. No such thing this time. My Parents came to visit from Belfast and we along with my McCulloch family went out for a lovely dinner... no sickness to report!

We went to visit Llandudno for the day, we had great weather. Mum and Dad had never been to visit so it was great to take them somewhere we really enjoy going.Emily is having a not so good week. She now has 6 teeth through and there are more on the way. She has caught a cold which has brought a nasty cough. Jamie and I are very tired, she is really struggling at night to sleep.(we know Emily has always been a good sleeper so when this happens it does give us a reality check.)

Anyway...

Jamie is still exam marking

Our house is still for sale

It is still raining outside

and we are still smiling.

We are off to Belfast this weekend to celebrate Emily and our niece, Ellie-May's first birthdays; so it will be two weekends in a row of birthday celebrations for us.